ABC Pilot Shooting in Savannah

Parking is always scarce in Savannah but this Sunday in the blocks surrounding my apartment, it had entirely disappeared. I wouldn't have imagined that the reason for this was ABC, and Director Gregory Hoblit (NYPD Blue, Fracture, Untraceable) shooting a pilot for the hopeful new series "Solving Charlie." An 80 person crew, bringing with them extras, trucks, equipment, make-up trailers, catering, and more had appeared overnight and were now populating the area.

On Sunday, they were shooting at Oglethorpe square, a stone's throw from my front door. The typically quiet, aside from the occasional tour-bus, park was now covered with tourists, surveilling the park for clues about the production, as well as the crew itself, staying focused on their work as they prepared for the shoot. Walking around the square, I saw grips, or general assistants on sets, applying tape to the edges of cars to prevent glare, and coordinating the growing crowd of on-lookers to move out of frame. A man with a headset made hurried circles through the vicinity, cuing extras, while the camera, led by a large crew, navigated the brick sidewalk on a dolly and crane-arm. Just a block or so north, a yellow sign reading "Base Camp" points to, until very recently, an empty park, now filled with trucks from Atlanta with markings indicating their purpose.

I was very pleased to see just how patient and friendly the crew was with the ever-growing crowd. When the shoot finally started they gracefully ushered their audience across a street or down a block, apologizing for the inconvenience but otherwise completely fine with their presence.

The pilot will be shooting across Savannah throughout the rest of the week. According to Savannah Now, next up, on Monday, they'll transition to Factor's Walk for a more action-involved sequence. Finally, on Tuesday and Wednesday the crew will move out to Thomas Square. There they will be shooting a sequence taking place at the scene of a murder.

Savannah is no stranger to Film or Television productions. Its historic look and picturesque allure has drawn in such big-name films as Roots, Forest Gump, and The Legend of Bagger Vance. It's especially nice in these turbulent economic times to see industry come to the city, bringing with them not only what they contribute directly, but also the possibility of Savannah being projected into living rooms across America for an hour every week. And the first thing Savannah should do with it's new-found wealth and stature? More parking.

Sources:
Lesley Conn, ABC Pilot to Shoot in Savannah This Week, Savannah Now